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This singer/songwriter combines his love for 80s electro rock with grassroots acoustic soul to create music straight from the heart. A former American Idol semi-finalist, Kurtis and his band bring an energy and passion needed in today's world..

Based in Washington DC, Kurtis Parks is an award winning songwriter and worship leader originally hailing from Roanoke, VA. After appearing in the top 40 on American Idol's fourth season, Parks founded the band, The Season, with fellow Virginia Tech...

Based in Washington DC, Kurtis Parks is an award winning songwriter and worship leader originally hailing from Roanoke, VA. After appearing in the top 40 on American Idol's fourth season, Parks founded the band, The Season, with fellow Virginia Tech alumnus Josh Kim. The Season set up shop in Nashville, toured the nation nonstop for 3 years, and had several songs featured on national radio.

In June of 2009, Parks branched out on a solo journey, taking him all over the US leading worship at churches, conferences and festivals- sometimes with a full band. He founded 3 Leaves Music, where he writes and produces for other artists. In March of 2010, he joined National Community Church, under Pastor/Author Mark Batterson in our nation's capital. Kurtis just released his latest project, "Light will Shine", produced by Akil Thompson, whose worked with India Arie, Israel Houghton and Jonny Lang. Check out Kurtis' dates, music, and full biography at www.kurtisparks.com

"Kurtis Parks is an incredibly talented singer songwriter. But what impresses me most is his passion for worship. It’s contagious. It took two seconds for Kurtis to connect with our congregation! He’s a blessing wherever he goes."-Mark Batterson (Pastor @ National Community Church, author of best selling book "In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day")

"Kurtis Parks is a fresh and distinctive new voice of worship emerging in the church today. His passion for God's presence is unmistakable and his ability to ignite that hunger in others is a gift thousands of churches are crying out for."-Danny Chambers (Lead Pastor~Oasis Church Nashville, and Integrity Worship artist)

From American Idol to the Season by The Roanoke TimesWhen "American Idol" began auditioning contestants in Washington, D.C., Roanoker Kurtis Parks never dreamed that he'd make the first cut, let alone become a finalist during the show's 2004 season....

From American Idol to the Season by The Roanoke TimesWhen "American Idol" began auditioning contestants in Washington, D.C., Roanoker Kurtis Parks never dreamed that he'd make the first cut, let alone become a finalist during the show's 2004 season.
At the half-joking urging of his brother, Parks took the bait and beat out 100,000 other hopefuls to become one of 193 semifinalists. He got the ax right before the group was cut to 44.
Bummed but unwilling to give up, he returned to Roanoke and quickly reunited with friend and foil Josh Kim to form the Season.
Parks (vocals/piano) and Kim (guitar, backing vocals) are touring the East Coast behind their self-titled, independently released debut album — having the time of their lives while gaining popularity. Best described as a mix of Switchfoot and Lifehouse with piano, the touring band is rounded out by bassist/guitarist Adam Agati and drummer Elliot Lopes.
Parks' numerous other accomplishments include composing and recording a symphony for electric guitars (a feat not taken seriously since New York noisemeister Glenn Branca recorded his groundbreaking "Movement No. 1" in the 1980s) and winning a VH1 Song of the Year Award for his song "Everything That You Are," which ain't too shabby for an Air Force brat from Roanoke.
Q: It must have been difficult moving around so much as a kid.
Kurtis Parks: Yeah, a bit. I spent a lot of time in Florida, so I "grew up" there. I came of age in Roanoke and graduated from Glenvar High School in 2000. It was hard having to meet a whole new set of friends every couple of years, but I did have a lot of fun.
Q: What made you decide you wanted to be a musician?
A: I started playing piano at age 11, and writing my own stuff a few years later. I was good at it (laughs) and I decided I wanted that as a career.
Q: Influences?
A: When playing piano, I listened to a lot of classical: Mozart, Beethoven, George Winston, Jim Brickman. I grew up in a Christian household, and when I got into rock it was Jars of Clay and D.C. Talk. As I got older and more independent, I fell in love with the guitar, which led to the Smashing Pumpkins, U2 and Weezer.
Q: How did the Season come about?
A: While at Virginia Tech [graduating in 2004 with a degree in finance], I formed a band my sophomore year with Josh called the Temple. After losing on "Idol," I came back here and we played together again as the Kurtis Parks Band, using my name to get attention. Soon after, we changed the name to the Season, because the band is much more than just myself.
Q: Now that the album's out, what's next?
A: We've received a sponsorship from a German company that did the computer rig for the last U2 tour, so we'll probably be heading to Europe. For now, we're going to continue to hit the East Coast and Midwest circuits, back and forth, every few months, and hopefully we'll create enough of a spark to make it to the next level and make it fun for everybody. We're really proud of the CD. It's the kind of record you can put on and listen to all the way through. Next time we're in town, hopefully Roanoke will come out and support their brother!
Q: Has your stint on "Idol" helped or hurt in the long run?
A: It was eye-opening. I saw how the industry works and the demands it places on people. When I lost, a friend made me feel better by saying I'm just going to have to do it the old-fashioned way, by busting my hump. It's given us a bit of an edge because a lot of people recognize me and enjoyed my performances. It's been a good tool to use. It's gotten us gigs and helped us sell CDs ... lots and lots of people watch the show!
Q: How merciless was Simon Cowell?
A: He's actually pretty funny and really nice. He's not really the person you see on TV. Even when he's mean, you can see he's telling the truth ... he could be pretty harsh, though! (Laughs.)
FLASHBACK
From the Feb. 10, 2005, Roanoke Times report:
Kurtis Parks didn't exactly give the performance of his life Wednesday.
In fact, he was sort of awful, but in a funny way — funny enough that he was one of the featured performers on Wednesday's edition of "American Idol.
For this round of the competition, Parks, of Roanoke County, was paired with two other contestants. Together they sang a song that may have been Barry Manilow's "Jump Shout Boogie," though it's hard to say for sure because not one of them could memorize the lyrics.
Everything is happening last-minute," he said on the show. "The Gettysburg Address: Didn't Lincoln write that on the way to the theater?
None of you sang the song!" judge Randy Jackson admonished following their performance.
Still, the judges agreed the boys deserved to make it to the next round.